After a strong preseason debut against Weston FC a week before, The Miami FC 2 exploded for nine goals in a dominant 9-1 victory over South Florida FC of the American Premier Soccer League on March 25, 2018.

The game, which was divided into three 30-minute periods, was clearly intended as a warm-up excercise for both sides. However, it rather quickly escalated. Both sides attempted aggressive challenges, which might have elicited a yellow card in a different match.

Did you miss the game? You can watch it here!

The first 30 minutes were slow offensively, although Miami FC did get on the board through a Tyler Ruthven header in the 15th minute provided by Dylan Mares. It was the head which again put Miami FC on the board, immediately before the conclusion of the first 30-minute period. In the 29th minute, it was Ariel Martínez assisted by Ruthven.

Head coach Paul Dalglish took the second 30 minutes to put midfielder Michael Lahoud in a less-than-familiar spot: fullback. Lahoud played some time as fullback last season after an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and meniscus injury. Lahoud took over for Ruthven, and newly acquired midfielder Manny Gonzalez stepped into the breach left by Lahoud.

Second is best

During that second 30 minutes, an offensive explosion took place. Five goals, paced by a brace from Don Smart, effectively finished the game:

43′: Vincenzo Rennella, assisted by Smart

48′: Smart, assisted by Rennella

52′: Rhett Bernstein, assisted by Smart

58′: Mares

60′: Smart

That’s now three goals for Smart in two preseason games.

The final 30 minutes were less eventful, with goals from Juanitio (67′) and Tomas Greco (73′), both assisted by Aly Hassan. South Florida pulled back a consolation goal in the 90th minute, but by that point the game had long been over.